Discover one good thing after another in Canberra

Canberra: a city of surprises

Canberra is full of lots of things; award-winning restaurants, historic museums, natural beauty. But most of all, Canberra is full of surprises. There’s really no other place where so much is all so close. Because when it comes to Australia’s capital, it’s one good thing after another.

Prime position

Nestled conveniently between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant, multicultural capital city is home to about 390,000 people.

Just a short drive from the pristine beaches of the New South Wales South Coast and the beautiful Snowy Mountains, Australia’s largest inland city is the perfect base for a self-drive holiday with no road tolls, ample parking and minimal traffic.

Food for thought

After all that fresh air you’ll have earned a little indulgence and Canberra’s red-hot food and wine scene is sure to impress.

Refuel in the inner-city foodie precincts of Braddon, NewActon and the Kingston Foreshore – where you’ll find a delicious combination of hipster coffee shops, innovative cafes and award-winning restaurants – or spend the day sampling the Canberra region’s cool climate wines, with more than 30 cellar doors located within 35 minutes' drive of Canberra.

Culture vultures

If arts and culture is your thing, Canberra has you covered with a multitude of galleries and museums to explore and discover more about Australia’s history. As an added bonus, most of Canberra's world-class national attractions offer free entry and all of them are within a 10 minute drive of the city.

Let’s step outside

Enjoying the great outdoors comes naturally in the bush capital as our city transforms with a kaleidoscope of colours across four distinct seasons. Soar above Lake Burley Griffin in a hot air balloon, hike the mountainous surrounds or venture into our nearby national parks and reserves to get up close and personal with native Australian wildlife.

Hot air balloon take off during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Talking shop

Visitors looking to enjoy some retail therapy can check out Canberra's flourishing weekend markets and modern shopping malls or explore the boutique-lined streets of Braddon and Manuka.

Fun for all ages

Our fun-filled city is the perfect destination for families. Let the kids run wilder than their imaginations with a flurry of family-friendly activities including monstrous milkshakes, lifelike dinosaurs and weird and wonderful science experiments.

A trip to Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre is fun for all the family

When it comes to Canberra, you never know what unexpected wonders are waiting around the corner. You may need to dig a bit deeper to unearth Canberra’s gems, but you’ll be rewarded with a city full of surprises.